Ear Ache My Eye!

So I've never had this problem as long as I've been swimming: swimmer's ear. I have NO IDEA how I got it. It hurts, believe me, and I'm very not happy about having to stay on dry land for a few days. I'm getting a doctor to look at it tomorrow morning, but it hurts, itches, can't touch it (don't even THINK about shoving a wax earplug in there - ouch!!), and my ear feels like I've gone down to the bottom of the deep end and didn't equilibrate my ears.

Theories are that maybe it was the water in Tuscaloosa (which was really grody) and somehow it hung around for a week, and I think the kicker was then spending another week in the swimming pool, chlorinated tho it may be, and keeping it wet made for the ideal environment.

Whatever the cause, I've learned:
1. When you swim in grody water, use the ear cleaning stuff (alcohol/vinegar/water)
2. That today's going to be a running day...so much for swimming.

Boo to Homework!!

So while I sit here and procrastinate on homework...haha yeah I'm just not feeling the homework right now. I had a really good week of getting stuff done, and then that ended.

Swimming with the swim team is taking its toll on my arms/shoulders/back for sure. It's going to do me so much good in the end. Swam for two full hours yesterday...haven't done that in 5 years. I haven't swam more than 1.5 hours in a row for the last 5 years, and that was in a race. Other than that, it's been like 2 times per week for about an hour. Which worked, and I actually improved, probably mostly from increased cardio ability from all the cross training. So now, with the long swim sessions, my poor muscles are just dying, can't go anymore, but my heart's over here saying "That's all you GOT????" so I get out, run (with the swim team, but yesterday they couldn't keep up with me) then get back from the run and hop on my bicicleta. For another 2.5 hours (by the way, I rode my bike the 8 miles to swim practice in anticipation of this). I trained for a total of 5.5 hours yesterday. SWEET. Not to tired from it either, strangely. Ran for a nice easy hour today and then stretched for an hour, trying to loosen up the hips/shoulders that are NOT happy at the moment. They will survive. So now I sit, watching the dog next door whine and bark at his back door and consider doing homework. Guess I should get to it.

School Has BEGUN

That's right, the dread of school is no longer, as school is upon us...or me. Whatever. Since finishing up my last (not so spectacular) race, I took my week off, deflated, enjoyed training whenever I wanted, and then decided to start training with the UNM Swim Team (Thanks Tracy!). I'm definitely getting a much needed butt-kicking in the pool, with, you know, real swimmers and all. But I seem to be improving, I didn't get lapped today :D. I got lapped yesterday, but that was on IM, which my backstroke/butterfly are horrendous from not swimming them in years. Strangely, not too rusty on breaststroke (my stroke of choice and talent). Had some practice with the freestyle snorkel today, which, believe me, is not something that is much fun, in my opinion. Because your face is under the level of the water while you're breathing, it means that there's more resistance to breathe against. It's not so noticeable the first few 300's but after that it starts to be noticeable. And then there's the flip turns with the snorkel...think whales... I was really glad when we were done with that. It's amusing though that I can get out of the water, my arms are dead, or mostly, and I still feel like I can go for a run. Guess that's what all the triathlon cross training gets me.
Saturday's an epic day, 3 hours at the pool, and I've decided that I'm going to ride my bike to/from...a good 30 minutes to (downhill) but probably closer to an hour on the way home (taking into account being tired from the swim). Yay! I love 4.5 hour training days :) Maybe I'll go for longer...it's all just base.